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T O P I C R E V I E W

Robert Pearlman

NASA release

NASA Posts Global Exploration Roadmap

NASA is releasing the initial version of a Global Exploration Roadmap (GER) developed by the International Space Exploration Coordination Group. This roadmap is the culmination of work by 12 agencies, including NASA, during the past year to advance coordinated space exploration.

The GER begins with the International Space Station and expands human presence throughout the solar system, leading ultimately to crewed missions to explore the surface of Mars.

The roadmap identifies two potential pathways: "Asteroid Next" and "Moon Next." Each pathway represents a mission scenario that covers a 25-year period with a logical sequence of robotic and human missions. Both pathways were deemed practical approaches to address common high-level exploration goals developed by the participating agencies, recognizing that individual preferences among them may vary.

NASA and 11 other ISECG member agencies have released an update to the 2011 Global Exploration Roadmap. The updated document reflects ongoing dialog and continued preparation for exploration beyond low-Earth orbit – beginning with the International Space Station (ISS) and expanding human presence throughout the solar system, leading to human missions to the surface of Mars.

The GER highlights the critical role of the International Space Station in preparing for deep-space exploration. It also demonstrates that the global community is working together on a space exploration strategic plan, with robotic and human missions to destinations that include near-Earth asteroids, the Moon and Mars.

Twelve governments from all over the world, all with their own convoluted roadmaps, trying to create one roadmap. Sounds like a sitcom!

328KF

I read through this report and I don't find too much here to draw encouragement from. It seems to be a high-level overview of current activities and virtually every project on each participants' wish list for the future.

A few parts that stood out to me included these passages:

On page 17 -

Many agencies consider human missions to the lunar surface as an essential step in preparation for human Mars missions. Lunar missions are favored by agencies who view the Moon as the next step for planetary exploration and NASA may contribute to such missions.

Separately, NASA presents it's rationale for the "bag and drag" asteroid mission, but no mention is made there of support or agreement from any other participants, except to state that it "includes opportunities for partnership."

It seems that unless the participants reach consensus on what the most appropriate path is, they each be doing their own projects while hoping that they all merge together at some point in the future.

Then, on page 42, we read that this was mostly just at a "friendly discussion" stage... but they do make the point that we all need to get on he same page if we want to work together to get to Mars (or someplace).

While this document does not create commitments of any kind on behalf of any of the participants, the Global Exploration Roadmap is an important step in an evolving process toward achieving a global, strategic, coordinated and comprehensive approach to space exploration.

The report does do a good job of laying out the critical hurdles that need to be addressed, particularly with human physiological effects, for the average reader to gain an appreciation for the dangers.

Of course, cost is not addressed at all, or how it might be divided among participants. Without political support and subsequent funding from a large number of governments, none of this will happen. How could we go about obtaining these two crucial elements unless there is agreement among the participants on how to accomplish it?

Robert Pearlman

quote:Originally posted by 328KF:How could we go about obtaining these two crucial elements unless there is agreement among the participants on how to accomplish it?

NASA is interested in obtaining feedback on the Global Exploration Roadmap. You are invited to submit your comments to: HQ-GER-Comments@mail.nasa.gov